Primary cell



A. F. DANIEL PRIMARY CELL Oct. 24, 1950 Filed NOV.' 6, 1945 ZINC FOIL MERCURIO OXIDE, GRAPHITE \7 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR E'. DANIEL FIG. 2

Patented Oct. 24, 1950 PRIMARY CELL Arthur F. Daniel, Fair Haven, N. J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application November 6, 1945, Serial No. 627,078

1 Claim. (Cl. 136-107) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30l 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon,

This invention relates to primary alkaline dry l5 as alforded by the ring 9, is necessary. due to cells of the zinc-mercurio oxide type. the fact that the cathode becomes soft. Such a An object of the invention is to improve the support within the cell also allows the use of shelf life of such primary alkaline dry cell and a plain cylindrical container, in lieu of a form to provide a cell structure affording better inpreviously employed, which was formed with a sulation between the anode and the cell conl0 ledge for supporting the barrier and the elements tainer and also between the anode and the cathabove it hereinafter described. Said barrier has ode of the cell. a diameter equal to the internal diameter of the A further object is to provide a cell structure container, its peripheral margin lying on the ring which will avoid the transfer of material from 9, while its inner part of the lower surface rests the cathode to the anode and vice versa, such 16 on the cathode l. It will thus be seen that the transfer causing internal short circuits. ring 9 and llle barrier l0 fOllll4 all effective Seal A still further object is to provide a constructo prevent material from being transferred t0 tion which will allow the use of a simpler, and and from the cathode. The barrier may be made therefore more economical, form of cell container 0f any Suitable material SllCh aSy fOI example, a than that heretofore employed. 20 sheet of polyvinyl alcohol.

The invention is embodied in a primary cell A11 arlOde l2 iS disposed in the upper Dart 0f having a container, an anode and a cathode in the container, and is of substantially the same the container, an insulator around the cathode, diameter aS the Catllde 7. and rests 0n the bal'- a bari-ier between the two electrodes, which barrier I 0- Thls anode is Shown as comprising a rier has its peripheral margin lying on th-e menroll or spiral formed by winding contacting strips. tioned insulator and pressed thereagainst to I4 and l5, 0f Zinc foil and paper respectively. form an effective seal for the purpose of prevent- The paper is adapted t0 absorb the electrolyte, ing the transfer of material from one electrode With Which it iS SllbSeqlleIltlY Saturated, aS kIlOWIl to the other, such transfer being deleterious to to the art. It will be noted that the paper and the cell by causing internal shorts with a conselille Oil are ill lapped 0I Offset relatiOIl t0 each quent shortening of the cells shelf life. Other other, lille fell extending abOVe the Paper while features will be described below which further the latter extends below the foil and contacts increase the effectiveness of the mentioned seal the barrier l0. and provide improved insulation between the Surrounding the anode, and lling the space electrodes and between these and the container. between it and the inner surface of the upper The drawings illustrate one form of the in- Dart of the container, is an insulating compovention. nent Il, which rests on, and presses against, the

In the drawings; marginal portion of the barrier. The insulator Figure l is a central vertical section of a pril'i therefore not only serves to insulate the anode mary cell; and 40 from the inner wall of the container, but, by fill- Figure 2 is an elevational view. ing the space mentioned, and also-by pressing Referring to the drawings for a more detailed on the marginal portion of the barrier, functions description thereof, the numeral 5 indicates a to assist in making the barrier a more eiective cylindrical steel container having a bottom 6. A Seal t0 prevent the mOi/ement 0f material from circular depolarizing cathode I lies on the boteach eleCtlOde to the other. tom 0f the Container and may be a body made by A metallic top or closure i9, preferably of zinc, compressing a mixture of mercurio oxide and is provided for the cell. This top has a centrally graphite, both in comminuted form, as under depressed area which contacts the upper surface stood in the art. of the anode l2, while the relatively elevated The cathode 'l is laterally surrounded by a ring 50 peripheral margin ts into a channelled insulat- 9, which iills the space between the periphery of ing grommet 20. The grommet is pressed onto the cathode and the inner surface of the conboth sides of the marginal portion of the top I8 tainer, and is ush with the upper surface of the to form a tight seal, in combination with the cathode. Said ring may be of either metallic or upper edge of the container. This upper edge is insulating material. turned inwardly and downwardly to exert pres- 2 The ring 9 supports a permeable or porous barrier I0, which is about 0.003 inch thick and `allows the passage of inter-electrode current.

The provision of a solid support for the barrier,

the anode I 2 and the insulator I1, by transmitted pressure. bear down on the barrier Il, whereby the latter forms the desired eflective seal for the purpose previously mentioned.

The nature of the electrolyte for this type o! cell is known. being an aqueous solution oi an alkali hydroxide, substantially saturated with zinc oxide when the anode is zinc. For convenience, it is stated here that the electrolyte may be made by dissolving 75 grams of potasslum hydroxide in 100 grams oi water, to which solution 12 grams of zinc oxide are added and dissolved therein.

What is claimed is: J

In a hermetically sealed primary alkaline dry cell of the zinc-mercurio oxide type, a container, a cathode of plain upper surface pressed| into the bottomfof said container, a ilrst cylindrical ring surrounding the periphery o! said cathode and 'in contact with the wall o! said container, an

ionically permeable barrier in contact with the upper suriaceoi said cathode and extending entirely across said container with its periphery in contact with the wall oi' said container, said ionically permeable barrier being supported at its peripheral margin by said rst cylindricall ring of insulating material surrounding the periphery ot said anode-spacer in contact with the wall of said container and in contact with the peripheral margin of the ionically permeable barrier, both said cylindrical rings being substantially the same heights as the respective electrodes, a metal top disc positioned above the anode-spacer. the marginal portions of said disc being insulated from the container and the center portion of said top disc being in pressure contact with the upper end of the anode-spacer structure, and means formed on said. container pressing the insulated marginal portion of said top disc against the upper end of said second cylindrical ring..

' ARTHUR 1|'. DANIEL.

REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing references are o! record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,106,540 Broad Aug. 11, 1914 1,611,153 Benner etal. Dec. 21, 1926 2,368,697 Wincklerv Feb. 6, 1945 2,369,931 Winckler Feb. 20,1945 2,422,045 Ruben June 10, 1947 2,422,046 Ruben June 10, 1947 

